The Words of Daqiqi

When that night had passed and day arrived, the world-lighting sun blazed forth. Both armies climbed into their saddles, and from the mountain King Goshtasp watched them. When that blessed king saw from the mountain how the warriors had mounted their horses, He called for the black steed Behzad; you would think it was Mount Bisotun itself. They draped its armored coat upon it, and that king of kings climbed onto its back. When both sides drew level before each other, they sounded the brazen trumpets atop the elephants. They laid out a battlefield, and the champions called out for single combat. First they loosed a rain of arrows, exactly like the hail of spring. The sun vanished from the world; how could anyone who did not see that wonder know it? The fountain of the sun was veiled by their arrowheads flashing like water. You would say the world was covered in cloud, and from that cloud poured down diamonds. The mace-bearers and spearmen charged, this one at that, that one at this. The sky above had turned dark as night, and the earth from end to end was red as roses. First came that gallant rider, then Ardeshir, the lord of the world. He rode to the field with spear in hand; you would think it was Tus, the commander himself. He kept circling before the army, unaware of what fate the sun and moon had dealt him. An arrow flew and struck his waist, piercing straight through the royal armor. Khosrow tumbled headlong from his chestnut mount, and his pure body was drenched in blood. What a loss, that handsome face bright as the moon, for the wise king never saw him again. Then came Shir-e Hormozd against the king, from whom the emperor once took counsel. He advanced onto the plain, a dagger in hand steeped in poison. He gave a roar like a lion about to bring a fierce wild ass to the ground. To avenge, that princely rider slew a thousand of the enemy's horsemen. As he was turning back from the fight, when the face of the earth had gone tulip-red, An arrow struck him from behind, and that royal prince was destroyed. After him came King Shidasp, who was like the king, radiant as the moon. Mounted on a gray horse dark as indigo, swift as a gazelle in stride, mighty as an elephant in body. He turned onto the field and swung his spear, and after wheeling a while he held it steady. 'Where is he,' he said, 'the huge Kahram, whose form is like an old wolf's?' A demon came forward and said, 'It is I who can strike my teeth against even a starving lion.' Both wheeled with their spears like the wind, and the prince's spear struck the Turk. He brought him down from his horse and cut off his head, casting his golden belt into the dust. He kept riding before the warriors of China, like a mountain upon a saddle. No eye had ever seen his like, for wherever beauty reached, his gaze surpassed it. A Turk aimed an arrow at him and drove its point out through his back. What a loss, that king raised in comfort, whose face his father never saw again.